Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-09-14
THE BIMLEY S.

The sea had somehow lost it's old
charm for me that particular summer.
1t might have been that, ''seen too oft,
familiar with its face" I had tired of
it's monotony, and wished to get
the old stereotyped ringing out OF my
ears, and rest my eyes from the merci-
less sun that shone only on the white
sands And the pitilessly reflected wa
tiers.
And, besides, | wanted rest; rest in
its truesU and best sense; rest from
the daily rounds of ceaseless frivolity;
rest from the inane chatter of gilded
butterflies OF the fashionable beach;
and rest from the constant changes of
toilet that "good form" demands OF
the habitues OF the elegant seaside re-
sort it he or she wish to be considered
en- regle, and pose for society person.
I wanted to 90 into hiding some
where for brief season, not exactly
as a hermit, but that | might find g.
marked change from the old conven-
tional way of spending q month or SO
OF vacation.
| got this change in an unexpected
manner, and the transition from
human frivolity to tragic pathos
was more then had planned.
[ found myself one September
morning standing by the shore of g.
beautiful little sheet of water among
the Sussex hills, in the northern part
OF New Jersey, In sort OF Rip Van
Wrinkle study. The metamorphosis
had been sudden and complete in my
surroundings. An hour or two ago [
had been in the whirl and hustle OF &C.
tive city life. Now was in the midst
OF peace and quiet, among rural seen
cry that was restful to the eye, heart
and brain.
The sheet of water at whose edge l
was standing was dignihed by the
name OF Lake Wanayanda-an Indi-
an appellatiOn, as | afterwards
learned-and was 9 diminutive piece
to bear the name Of lake.
But it was very beautiful as [ recall
it, on that bright September morning,
nestled among the towering hills and
framed by the foliage of the trees, ard
with margin OF green formed by the
low-growing bushes and grasses. 1t
was early in the day, and the first
rays of the sun had begun to look
over the ragged tops of the uneven
ridge to the eastward, and with
blaze of glory they presently flooded
the bosom OF the crystal lake lying in
peace before me.
Rocks cropped out from the surface
OF the ground everywhere, and loose
powders lay on the side of the precipi-
tous hills whose feet were laved by
the clear waters OF the little lake.
These powders, by their precarious
tenure OF the ground, suggested to me
the idea that Sisyphus OF old had been
engaged here, and that the huge
stones, seemingly ready TO topple
down into the lake, were evidences of
his herculean and incompleted task.
These verdure-clothed foothills, i'm
lmediately surrounding the sheet of
water, were but Lilliputian pickets,
thrown out in advance of the mount
ain ridge, and contributed pleasingly
toward the pretty and imposing land
scape.
As I returned to the little red farm
house, about hundred yards from
the lake, i saw for the first time Kate
Bimley. the pretty blonde daughter OF
my host. She seemed girl of about
Is, with rather sad expression
upon her attractive face. AS raised
my hat to salute her she gave me q
nod and a smile, but the smile was a
forced one and there was no spOn-
tapeity in her greeting. 1t was not
lifidence that checked her attempt at
civility. There WAS evidently a cloud
=, oh che +nr-
ing to lllumine by forced ray of
pleasantly, that it might not be no.
Ciced by a stranger.
She was pleasing contrast in her
plain, neatly fitting gown, to the
maidens | had been accustomed to
see at the fashionable resorts. 1t was
beauty unadorned; purity and sim
plioity combined; picture of inno-
cence that would have been so very
bright but for the sadness that tinged
her face.
Alter breakfast | went out in quest
OF amusement OF some kind to while
away the hours that would prove
tedious without some sort OF activity.
Strolling over toward the huge barn,
noticed two figures sitting On the
immense fiat rock infront Of the great
doors. One was John Bimley, my
host, and the other was his brother
in-law. Tom Elkins.
Bimley sat moodily watching the
other man, who seemed engaged in
chiseling some initials in the hard
traprock. This rock was fiat and
smooth, and was on a level with the
ground surrounding it. 1t was, per-
haps, square OF about ten feet, and
formed natural pavement in front
OF the huge barn. Tie two men were
.conversing as | sauntered up, and,